Volunteers from across the city descended on Londonderry Saturday for a last attempt to revitalize the community league and save the neighbourhood hall.

The hall — built by a once thriving group of neighbourhood volunteers — will be turned over to the city June 30, unless a new crew of local league enthusiasts steps forward.

Although many leagues have at times struggled to retain membership and stay relevant in their neighbourhoods, Londonderry's tenuous position is believed to be the most extreme. So roughly 35 volunteers from leagues across the city went door-to-door for Londonderry Saturday, selling memberships, raising awareness and checking local interest in resurrecting a uniquely Edmonton form of neighbourhood building.

"My understanding is it's the first time it's gotten to this degree. It's new, so now how to we address it," said Gavin Martinson, president of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.

"We're very optimistic. It seems like something that's very doable," said Martinson. "But we need to have strong interest from the community itself."

[caption id="attachment_473551" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The 48-year-old Londonderry Community League is on the verge of losing its hall.[/caption]

Edmonton has 157 leagues in neighbourhoods across the city. Volunteers there run local sports programs, host community BBQs and events to help neighbours meet neighbours, and advocate for the neighbourhood when planning issues come up at the city. Boards often age with the neighbourhood, but many have seen new and younger residents get involved.

The 48-year-old Londonderry league has no sports programs and the federation took over running their hall about a year ago as the league continued to shrink. A lack of volunteers made it difficult to connect with new residents and the downward slide continued. It's to the point where not one person from the local league came out for the membership blitz.

But on Saturday, each volunteer wandered back and celebrated each half a dozen memberships sold. Forty-one residents added their names to a list for information on an upcoming meeting and the mood was upbeat.

Back home in Ethiopia, communities were always challenging each other with a soccer game. He'd love to help get that happening here, he said. "It's good cheering and having that physical competition."

"It's really good to have the community come together," added Cheryl Plante, Woldemariam's neighbour, who's been taking her boys to the neighbouring league because she thought Londonderry's was defunct.

"Even the seniors, they come out to dinners. It's pretty cool to see the seniors and young toddlers enjoying something at the same time. It doesn't happen that often."

As Advertised in the Edmonton SUN

Last push to save Edmonton's Londonderry community hall

Volunteers from across the city descended on Londonderry Saturday for a last attempt to revitalize the community league and save the neighbourhood hall.

The hall — built by a once thriving group of neighbourhood volunteers — will be turned over to the city June 30, unless a new crew of local league enthusiasts steps forward.

Although many leagues have at times struggled to retain membership and stay relevant in their neighbourhoods, Londonderry's tenuous position is believed to be the most extreme. So roughly 35 volunteers from leagues across the city went door-to-door for Londonderry Saturday, selling memberships, raising awareness and checking local interest in resurrecting a uniquely Edmonton form of neighbourhood building.